Method of making hollow articles



Nov. 6, 1951 A. c. SCAVULLO 2,573,736

METHOD OF MAKING HOLLOW ARTICLES Filed Feb. 24, 1947 mlllllll d INVENTOR,

ANGE 0. so u| o 2 HIS ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 6, 1951 amassr I V ME HDD F MAKI G HOLLOW A TICLES Angelo 0. Scavullo; Forest Hills;N.'- Y-.',assignor to .Victora K, Scavull'o, Frank -Scavullo; Chariss ScavullmMarieScavullo Sacgertand Margaret:- jscayullo :Scott, all .of Fonest.;Hi1ls,.;N. .Y.;

' 1"; My invention relates-to fabricated metal: productsfimoreespecially-=to -hollow-warearticles and to a method-dor producing :th'e-same. I

Arr-object ofmy inventionis the .provisionof a simple; direct and-thoroughly reliable method f or fabricating ornamented and integrally reinforced articles of the charactendescribed from' stainless steel sheet, wherein the ornamentation and reinforcen ient are readily-achieved during the fabricating operations- Asfurther object iofe-rny -inventionis the provision of simply and economicallyproduced stainlesssteel hollow-ware articles which are strong, durable and easy to keep in thoroughly present-' able and attractive condition=-even when put to hard-usage. l

. Other objects ottheeinvention inpartwill be obvious, and in :part pointed out hereinaften The invention accordingly-"consists. in :the .-features ,of. construction and. in the several. opera? tionalsteps, and v the relation of. each of the same toone-or moreofthe otherswas described herein, the scope oi-the. applicationof: which :is indicated the-following. claims. I

For. a, more ready comprehension ofan embodiment-bf my,:invention,-.reierence may. be had-to the. accompanying dmwinewhereinz- Figure 1 is aperspective: .view of a preliminarily formed hollow-ware articles.

Figures z and-Bare views illustrating certain forming operations in accordance with my inven-.- tion and Figures 4 -=and=.=5 are detached sectional views .Of-iWOzfOIH'lSJOf thehollowawarearticle .of my invention;-

Like -reference.. characters :wdenote -like. parts throughout the. several views;

-.conducive to. a ".clearer =-understanding..-of certainfeatures of my-invention, itmay, be noted atthis; point-that stainless .steels,; asior. example the: austenitic chromiumenickel stainless steels andrespeciallywthose containing-10% to 25% chromiumland;17%= .to: 15% nickel, and' the re.- maindersubstantially all iron, have 1 come into widespread. useein .-a-.-numberof "interior: and exterior architectural:applications, such as. decor.- ative trim and; fixtures, ;where bright. metal re.- sistant to.: ;the-,:corrosive-efiects of atmospheric conditions is; advantageous. Likewise, the straight-chromium stainlesssteels', as. for example those. containing from-12,%. to 18.-%achromium.and the. remainder substantiallyaall i iron have been employed for similar uses.-

In recent. years: the.- stainless steels 1 have been extensively inrdemandtforJ-a varietyof. kitchen,

Z. Y dairy and hospitalapplicationsas in the-form-of cooking and serving utensils exposed *to fruit and vegetable-acids or corrosive salts, common-containers; and other appliances where bright corrosio'nresistant metalis desired. This and'other demands have'made it desirable to produce stainless steel hollow-ware articles, as --for--example bric-a-brac, bowlsgravy boats, coasters, lagles, dishes, pitchers, pots, trays, and'th'e use, in "CORT- petition with similararticles made of plain carbon steel orsilven- A-sellingpoint infavor ofstainless steel products, illustratively -hollow-ware table settings, is their pleasing, rich and-enduring surfaceappearance whether they be bright polished or left in their satin-like gray unpolished condition. The stainless steel commodities further present the attraction of-being economical to .use,=-for such reasons ashavinga relatively low initial cost as compared with articlesmade of precious metals, and of being extremelydurable and requiring little maintenance and infrequent replacementeven under conditions of hard :usage; As distinguished. from .zconventional stainless steel hollow-wareJ find ornamentation desirable. .The provision of. stainless steel products in ornamerited form. in whichflthe. utilitarian aspects of the steel. are substantially-fully retained; may therefore be regardedasan outstandingobject of my. invention. Another object is the production of such ornamented-articles at minimum cost.

Referring now more-particularly to the practice ofiny: invention, I produce ornamental stainless steeLhollow-ware, aster: example any of a wide variety of pieces for table use, by first forming hollowed or dished articles from stainless steel sheet-or strip as by sta'mping,bending or 1 deepdrawing.- 1 provide an ornamentalbrim or lip onthe ware, by-such measures as rolling, pressing, bending or spinning the free edge of'the sheet or strip thus achieving a turned-over welded thick ness or overlapping border.

While the articles of my invention may be formed havingmerely a plain border for the ornamental effect, I usually provide further-ornamentation, this illustratively being raised or impressed designs on-the portion constituting the border. For this purpose I employ cooperating dies, the latteradvantageously being applied bearing toward'each other across the thickness of the stainless steel'at a pressure which is so moderate that the metal surface in being decorated takes a-sharp impression without detrimental distortion or undue weakening of the article. The dies for example are roller dies, one

constituting a raised .die and the otherhav-ing a corresponding depressed pattern cut therein. As an alternative, one of the dies may be entirely smooth to afford a back-up for the other an ornamentation-imparting die which supports a pattern in the form of an intaglio or raised areas producing the stainless steel surface decoration. There are occasions when I apply ornamentation to the single thickness of the metalwithout later turning down the brim or lip, but otherwise enjoy the benefits derived from working and ornamenting the metal.

The stainless steel hollow-ware articles which I produce have any of a variety of different shapes and sizes, as in the instance of plates, platters, trays, coffee pots, urns, tumblers, vases, pans,

dishes and numerous other products. In general the stainless steel sheets from which I fabricate the articles have gauge thicknesses ranging between 12 to 20 gauge or less. cles are to have an overlapping border I find advantage in using thin sheets of the steel, preferably I from 18 to 20 gauge sheets and even smaller gauges. With the overlapping border at the brim or lip, my hollow-ware articles are especially strong and capable of withstanding rough usage commonly encountered in restaurants, hotels and the like. Moreover, the border or over-lapping rim greatly contributes to overall decorative effect, particularly where this effectis enhanced by embossed or stamped designs on the rim or on other areas of the ware. Both the rim and the remainder of, the stainless steel products resist corrosion, this also being true of any designs which I cut or press on the metal by dies or the like.

. As specifically illustrative of the practice of my invention, I deep-draw 18 gauge stainless steel sheet into the preliminary form of a particular article of stainless steel, as for example into the rough form of a salad bowl I represented by Fig. l of the accompanying drawing. The preliminary fabricated bowl has. a flat out-turned marginal rim Illa, this conveniently being produced as an incident to the deep-drawing operations and thereafter trimmed to desired width by any suitable metal cutting tool or machine. While the article may be fabricated from any suitable stainless steel, I find that 18-8 chromium-nickel steel (18% chromium, 8% nickel and the remainder substantially all iron) serves admirably for the purpose. l

For providing a pressed-in ornamental de sign or intaglio on the rim Iila, I employ cooperating rotary dies, one of these, (see Fig. 2) being an overlying circular rotary die element II fast on drive shaft IIa through its hub Ilb. On the peripheral face Me of the elementthere is a male die pattern IId which serves to cut the ornamental design or intaglio into the. top surface of the rim Illa. Beneath theroller II, is a cooperating circular and rotary die element I5 having a smoothperipheral surface I5caffording a back-up or anvil surface for the male die pattern II. The die element I5, for example is loosely mounted as an idler on, shaft I5a, or

is driven by the shaft through a positive con: nection of the. hub I51).

With the rotary die elements disposed a suitable distance apart, I introduce the rim IOa of the salad bowl between the same, and then adjust the dies to cutting positionof the pattern IId against the rim. Then, by rotating the dies,

.as by driving the respective shafts II a and, I5a

in opposite and aiding directions of rotation, and at the same feeding-rate, a feeding and pressing Where the artiaction comes into play on the rim Illa. The rate of speed of the rim and the, pressure exerted thereon, as achieved by the die elements, are suihcient that the rim top surface takes a good, sharp impression or intaglio of the male pattern Ild. The effect of this impression is executed by the back-up die from the directly opposing surface of the. sheet metal thickness. I maintain the working conditions until the pattern defines a closed path on the rim and impresses the circuituous ornamental design IOb in the stainless steel surface. Where desired, I cut or embossother ornamentation on the surface of the bowl, apart from the rim surface, as in a circuit around the outside area of the concave stainless steel body and by employing the same or. similar dies as are used in decorating the rim. Where the back-up die element i5, however, is to contact surfaces of the ware which are to be exposed to view, I find advantage in padding the element so as to avoid imparting injurious scars and scratches by the same during the pressing or cutting of the stainless steel.

In finishing the deep-drawn bowl, I subject the rim to bending operations such as .to pro: duce a fiat, compact outside or inside border of the same (see Figs. 4 and 5) at the brim of the ware. The bending operations preferably! include spinning to expedite production and for satisfactorily avoiding defacement of the ornamented rim. For spinning, I support the stainless steel bowl illustratively between rotary clamping plates 20, 2|, as represented in Fig. 3. These platesare suited for simultaneous rotation by their aligned axial shafts 20a, 2Ia, and as a unit with the bowl. To advantage, I back-up the bowl, in the vicinity .of the-brim, for example by use of an inside roller 22, mounted as for idling movement on the supporting shaft 22a and held to adjusted bearing position against the inner bowl surface by suitable means not shown. Also, in the present instance, I use an outside roller, or quadrant roller 23 (conveniently journaled in a forked carrier. 23a and operative by gradually tilting through about with the carrier), so as to turn the ornamented rim Illa flat against the main'body of the bowl while the latter is backed up by theinside roller 22 and rotated by the plates 20 and -2I.

During the last stages of these spinningopiirations I introduce molten solder into the space IIlc, as a beneficial practice, and press the rim Illa to soldered relation with the adjoining stainless steel surface of the ware; The solder-filled overlap accordingly is held firm, and well closed off against contamination-by such materials as foods, dirt, and the like, which otherwise might lodge in the space I00; The salad bowl is highly satisfactory for use either in. the naturalnmpolished condition or afterbright .polishingasby a light electrolyte polishing treatment or by mechanical-polishing methods, as desired. It will be appreciated that the topmost portion orzlip of the bowl has a continuous, corrosion-resistant stainless steel surface which is easy to keep free of corrosion and clean during use of the ware. The ornamental design orintaglio I 0b extends in full view all way around the border.

In carrying out my process, it therefore is possible to provide a pleasing, clear and substantially undistorted ornamental touch such as beading, gadrooning or edging on stainless steel hollow-ware, and the like, an'dwthis 'ina rapid, certain manner. The'neat, integral borderon .the ware, whether decorated or plain, is readily produced and lends structural reinforcement and artistic appeal. As has been suggested, stainless steel hollow-ware, and generally similar articles made in accordance with my invention, have pleasing appearance and substantial sales at traction, the price differential as compared with the cost of articles formed of precious metals such as silver adding appreciably to marketability and attractiveness to the discriminating purchaser.

It must also be noted that my process has utility for continuous production by proper coordination and arrangement of the equipment employed in effecting the several steps, and may be satisfactorily practiced with reliance upon labor of moderate skill in maintaining low cost and high utility of the hollow-ware products achieved.

Thus it will be seen that there is provided in this invention a production process for making stainless steel hollow-Ware articles, and products of the process, in which the various objects hereinbefore noted together with many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. It will be seen that the process and products are representative of satisfactory and economical production in a highly competitive field.

While the stainless steel hollow-ware articles produced in accordance with my invention may be either in the natural gray metallic or bright polished surface condition, it will be appreciated that at times the articles are given other surface finishes such as by blackening treatment following production to desired final shape.

It will be understood that I apply my process to producing nickel or copper hollow-ware articles, as for example articles ornamented and lapped at the brim, from approximately 12 to 20 gauge sheet nickel or copper, with certain of the advantages had with stainless steel.

As many possible embodiments may be made of my invention, and as many changes may be made in the embodiment hereinb-efore set forth, it is to be understood that all matter whether described or illustrated herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not as a limitation.

I claim as my invention:

1. In the production of sheet metal hollowware articles, the art which includes, forming the sheet into desired hollowed configuration with a free edge portion, positioning the hollowed formed sheet between rotary clamping plates, then while backing up the main body of sheet spinning the free edge of sheet to an overlapping border by applying pressure to the free spinning edge, and introducing molten solder between said border and the main body of said sheet during final stages of the spinning operation.

2. In the production of ornamented stainless steel, nickel or copper hollow-ware articles, the art which includes, shaping sheet of the metal to desired article configuration with body portion and free edge portion, passing said free edge portion of said sheet continuously between a rotary smooth surfaced anvil die and a cooperating rotary ornamentaticn-imparting die for producing a surface decoration thereon, backin up the body portion with an inside roller and spinning the free edge portion into an overlapping border with exposed surface decoration, and during the spinning operation introducing solder between the border and the body portion of the article. ANGELO C. SCAVULLO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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